'Global assault': Prince Harry says democracy and freedom under threat in UN address

At a United Nations event marking Nelson Mandela International Day, the Duke of Sussex also urged leaders to tackle climate change.

Prince Harry urged leaders to tackle climate change in an address to the UN General Assembly. Source: AAP, AP / John Minchillo

Key Points

• He said the overturning of constitutional rights in the US was part of "a global assault on democracy and freedom."
• He also urged leaders to tackle climate change.

The United Kingdom's Prince Harry has told the United Nations that the overturning of constitutional rights in the United States was part of "a global assault on democracy and freedom."

The Duke of Sussex addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York at an event marking Nelson Mandela International Day on Monday

"This has been a painful year in a painful decade," the royal told delegates.

He cited the continuing fallout from the pandemic, climate change, disinformation and Russia's invasion of Ukraine before alluding to the Supreme Court's recent overturning of America's nationwide right to abortion.

"And from the horrific war in Ukraine to the rolling back of constitutional rights here in the United States, we are witnessing a global assault on democracy and freedom, the cause of Mandela's life," Prince Harry said.

The royal paid tribute to Mandela, South Africa's anti-apartheid hero who spent 27 years in prison before being elected the country's first Black leader, as "not only a man of conscience" but "a man of action."

The Duke, 37, invoked that sentiment to urge leaders to tackle climate change, as his wife Meghan Markle looked on from the chamber.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle at the United Nations celebration of Nelson Mandela at the UN headquarters in New York. Source: AAP, AP / GWR/Star Max

"As we sit here today, our world is on fire again," he said, adding that "historic weather events are no longer historic."

"More and more, they are part of our daily lives. And this crisis will only grow worse unless our leaders lead.

"Unless the countries represented by the seats in this hallowed hall make the decisions, the daring, transformative decisions that our world needs to save humanity," he added.

The General Assembly designated 18 July, Mandela's birthday, Nelson Mandela Day in 2009 to honour his life and legacy.

UN General Assembly president Abdulla Shahid. Source: AAP, SIPA USA / Lev Radin

Assembly president Abdulla Shahid and New York City Mayor Eric Adams were among other delegates to make speeches.

In a personal moment, Prince Harry said a photograph of his mother Princess Diana with Mandela is "on my wall and in my heart every day."

It was taken in Cape Town in 1997, a few months before her death in a car crash in Paris.

"When I first looked at the photo, straightaway what jumped out was the joy on my mother's face. The playfulness, cheekiness even, the pure delight to be in communion with another soul so committed to serving humanity," said Prince Harry.